254 SALMONIA. 



sweets. I never saw a more animated scene 

 of insect enjoyment. The bees were most of 

 them humble bees, but many of them some 

 new varieties to me, and the wasps appeared 

 different from any I have seen before. 



Hal. — I believe this is one of the last au- 

 tumnal flowers that insects of this kind haunt. 

 In sunny days it is their constant point of 

 resort, and it would afford a good opportunity 

 to the entomologist to make a collection of 

 British bees. 



PoiET. — I neither hear the hum of the 

 bee, nor can I see any on its flowers. They 

 are now deserted. 



Phys. — Since the sun has disappeared, 

 the cool of the evening has, I suppose, driven 

 the little winged plunderers to their homes ; 

 but see, there are two or three humble bees 

 which seem languid with the cold, and yet 

 they have their tongues still in the fountain 

 of honey. I believe one of them is actually 

 dead, yet his mouth is still attached to the 

 flower. He has fallen asleep, and probably 

 died whilst making his last meal of ambrosia. 



Orn. — What an enviable destiny, quitting 



